That’s True Too

Natural Learning

I recently found myself at 7.30am one fine spring morning on a tractor-pulled trailer full of excited nine and 10-year-olds, bumping over a field to feed some cows in deepest Devon.

It was definitely a more bracing way to start the day than my usual tea, porridge, and the Today programme – and a lot more inspiring.

I’ve spent years making the case that our young people should have greater access to the natural world, with studies showing that half of children are unable to identify even the most common plants – whether brambles, bluebells, or stinging nettles.

I’ve regularly argued that more time spent in nature would have multiple benefits for young people – enriching their own lives, supporting their mental health, and also cultivating a new generation committed to environmental protection and nature restoration.